scholarly journals Diffusion tensor imaging of white matter integrity in relation to smoking index and exacerbations in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Mohamed Helmy ◽  
Amal A. Sakrana ◽  
Sherif Abdel-Fattah ◽  
Amany Ragab Elsaid
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
White Matter Tracts ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Smoking Index

Abstract Background Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a non-invasive MR modality that provides an evaluation of brain tissue microstructure and architecture in vivo. We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of DTI parameters in evaluating cerebral white matter integrity in patients of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and correlate these parameters with smoking index (SI) and the number of exacerbations in the last year. This prospective study included 30 COPD male past smoker patients and 15 age- and sex-matched nonsmoker controls. Staging of COPD, SI and number of exacerbations in the last year were obtained. Routine brain MRI and DTI were done in all subjects. The selected white matter tracts’ fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were calculated in the region of interest in axial slices. Results The mean FA and MD values of all selected white matter tracts showed a high significant difference (p < 0.001) between patients and control group. The correlation between FA, SI and exacerbation frequency was not significant in the majority of white matter tracts (p > 0.05). The correlation between MD, SI and exacerbation frequency was significant for the majority of tracts (p < 0.05). Conclusion DTI metrics are valuable non-invasive tools in evaluating the white matter abnormalities in COPD patients. Smoking index and frequency of exacerbations have possible relation to extra-pulmonary cerebral manifestations of COPD.

scholarly journals Tract Specificity of Age Effects on Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures of White Matter Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Matijevic ◽  
Lee Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
White Matter Tracts ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Age Related

Well-established literature indicates that older adults have poorer cerebral white matter integrity, as measured through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Age differences in DTI have been observed widely across white matter, although some tracts appear more sensitive to the effects of aging than others. Factors like APOE ε4 status and sex may contribute to individual differences in white matter integrity that also selectively impact certain tracts, and could influence DTI changes in aging. The present study explored the degree to which age, APOE ε4, and sex exerted global vs. tract specific effects on DTI metrics in cognitively healthy late middle-aged to older adults. Data from 49 older adults (ages 54–92) at two time-points separated by approximately 2.7 years were collected. DTI metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), were extracted from nine white matter tracts and global white matter. Results showed that across timepoints, FA and MD increased globally, with no tract-specific changes observed. Baseline age had a global influence on both measures, with increasing age associated with lower FA and higher MD. After controlling for global white matter FA, age additionally predicted FA for the genu, callosum body, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and both anterior and posterior cingulum. Females exhibited lower global FA on average compared to males. In contrast, MD was selectively elevated in the anterior cingulum and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), for females compared to males. APOE ε4 status was not predictive of either measure. In summary, these results indicate that age and sex are associated with both global and tract-specific alterations to DTI metrics among a healthy older adult cohort. Older women have poorer white matter integrity compared to older men, perhaps related to menopause-induced metabolic changes. While age-related alterations to white matter integrity are global, there is substantial variation in the degree to which tracts are impacted, possibly as a consequence of tract anatomical variability. The present study highlights the importance of accounting for global sources of variation in DTI metrics when attempting to investigate individual differences (due to age, sex, or other factors) in specific white matter tracts.

scholarly journals Chronic non-invasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Raveling ◽  
Judith Vonk ◽  
Fransien M Struik ◽  
Roger Goldstein ◽  
Huib AM Kerstjens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Invasive Ventilation ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Non Invasive Ventilation

Diffusion tensor imaging analysis in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis to determine the alteration of microstructural subcortical white-matter integrity

2020 ◽  
pp. 197140092098031
Author(s):  
Pranjal Phukan ◽  
Kalyan Sarma ◽  
Aman Yusuf Khan ◽  
Bhupen Barman ◽  
Md Jamil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Neuronal Degeneration ◽  
Central Nervous System Involvement ◽  
Subcortical White Matter ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Conventional Mri ◽  
Significant Difference

Background and purpose Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis is non-specific, and in the majority of the cases, conventional MRI fails to detect any abnormality. However, autopsy reports depict central nervous system involvement in almost all patients. There is therefore a need for research on the quantitative assessment of brain parenchyma that can detect microstructural abnormalities. The study aimed to assess the microstructural integrity changes of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis by using different diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of scrub typhus meningoencephalitis. Seven patients and seven age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Different DTI parameters such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA), trace, volume ratio (VR) and geodesic anisotropy (GA) were obtained from six different regions of subcortical white matter at the level of the centrum semiovale. Intergroup significant difference was determined by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine the accuracy of the DTI matrices. Results There was a significant decrease in FA, RA and GA as well as an increase in ADC and VR in the subcortical white matter in patients with scrub typhus meningoencephalitis compared to controls ( p < 0.001). The maximum sensitivity of the DTI parameters was 85.7%, and the maximum specificity was 81%. Conclusion There was an alteration of subcortical white-matter integrity in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis that represents the axonal degeneration, myelin breakdown and neuronal degeneration. DTI may be a useful tool to detect white-matter abnormalities in scrub typhus meningoencephalitis in clinical practice, particularly in patients with negative conventional MRI.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document